Chrysolepis

Chrysolepis chrysophylla, bark, leaves and prickly cupula

Chrysolepis is a genus in the beech family ( Fagaceae ). The only two species are native to the western United States.

• 4.1 Notes and references

Description

Appearance and leaves

The Chrysolepis species grow as evergreen trees or shrubs. The egg-shaped or almost spherical terminal bud has imbricate overlapping bud scales.

The alternate and spirally arranged on the branch leaves are usually stalked. The single, thick and leathery leaf blades are serrated margin entire or indistinctly. The more or less dimly discernible lateral nerves are branched and are directed towards the blade tip, before they reach the margin. The stipules are on the fresh shoot above and around the buds around often durable.

Inflorescences, flowers and fruits

Chrysolepis species are monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). The laterally arranged heaped at the ends of branches, ascending, rigid or flexible aged men inflorescences contain either only male flowers or female flowers near the base and male flowers above.

The male flowers usually contain six tiny, free bloom and usually twelve (rarely over 6 and up to 18) stamens; the stamens are usually surrounded by sterile, nectar-producing pencils, which are covered with silky hairs. The female flowers are (rarely individually to) usually in threes in the fruit cup ( cupula ) together. The female flowers have six tiny, free bloom and usually three carpels and style.

The closely with irregularly branched sharp spines and large, yellowish, multicellular glands occupied cupula is triangular to rounded in cross section and has two to some free flaps that completely cover the nut fruit. Nuts the cupula are separated by walls. The fruits ripen in the second year after pollination.

Chromosome number

The basic chromosome number is x = 12

Systematics and distribution

The two Chrysolepis species are located only in the western United States.

The first description of the genus Chrysolepis in 1948 by Karl Jesper Hakon Hjelmquist in Botaniska Notiser, Supplement 2 (1 ), pp. 117 type species is Chrysolepis chrysophylla ( Douglas ex Hook. ) Hjelmq .. The genus name is derived Chrysolepis chrysos from the Greek words for Gold and lepis for from dandruff, this refers to the yellow glands on different parts of plants.

The genus belongs to the subfamily Chrysolepis Castaneoideae within the Fagaceae family. The two species are also provided by some authors in the genus Castanopsis ( D.Don ) Spach.

There are only two types of Chrysolepis:

• Chrysolepis chrysophylla ( Douglas ex Hook. ) Hjelmq. With two varieties: Chrysolepis chrysophylla ( Douglas ex Hook. ) Hjelmq. var chrysophylla ( syn.. Castanea chrysophylla Douglas ex Hook, Castanopsis chrysophylla ( Douglas ex Hook ) A.DC.. ): It grows in redwood forests, mixed forests and evergreen coniferous forests at altitudes 0-2000 meters in California, Oregon and Washington. Most of the locations are near the coast, but also rich inland to the Sierra Nevada.
• Chrysolepis chrysophylla var minor ( Benth. ) Munz ( Syn: Castanea chrysophylla var minor Benth. ): It grows on rocky or stony open slopes, in coniferous forests, closed pine forests and chaparral at altitude 300-1800 meters in California and Oregon.

Use

You will read with some forms used as ornamental trees in parks and gardens. The nuts are edible and taste sweet, but it is difficult to remove the spiky cupula before they are completely ripe.

Swell

• Kevin C. Nixon: Fagaceae: Chrysolepis - text the same online as printed work, In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee ( Editor): Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 3 - Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae, Oxford University Press, New York, among others In 1997. ISBN 0-19-511246-6 (Section Description, distribution, systematics and use)
• Chrysolepis at The Jepson Flora Project. (Section Description and dissemination )